I WROTE IT. Whew. I was stuck for a while but I finally got it out. Sorry for the wait. I know I have been slacking but this time I feel like the chapter was kinda worth it. Idk. I just like this one.

Silver Wolfos-I'm a guy too. I'm just very in tuned with my feminine side. Though, girls are still crazy and unpredictable which I used on purpose in this story, creating drama where there wasn't any reason for it. If the story feels 'heavy' as you say, that's just my style. I love writing about emotions and the torment or bliss that comes with. I enjoy reading light hearted ones as much as the next guy, but I'm not great at writing them and I feel like they usually don't have enough… essence. For the depression… I completely understand. I have troubles reading and writing my ideas sometimes because they are of the genre. I'm always here if you get an account and want to talk, one downtrodden person to another. I know she is maturing too quickly. I try to stop it, but my fingers have a mind of their own when I write, sometimes completely ignoring the chapter I had planned. I will try to bring more childlike parts back, but I do want her to stay as the idea of a teenager because, in reality, she's not really that young. They just made her look and act it. Idk. This is long winded. Thanks for the review. :D

Whew. Sorry about that. It was a long review, deserved a long reply. As for the other reviewers, you had accounts and I messaged you personally. Anyway, I'll stop wasting your time. Enjoy

Silica's POV

*DING*

*DING*

*DING*

I halted my sweep of my surroundings to look down at the notifications that flashed at me. Apparently they had been going on for a while, I found out as I clicked the icon. I was taken aback as notification after notification stacked on top of each other, overlapping.

The first one was a message from Kirito. Worried and wanting solve the mystery of his disappearance, I activated it.

[Silica-chan, I wanted to apologize for worrying you yesterday and since this wasn't a material transgression like our… other incident, I figured I'd make it up to you by doing what I do best. I'm sorry but I need to investigate all day and I will be back with you as soon as time permits. I apologize but I don't have any more good food. You didn't seem to like what I brought last night anyway. I'll find something better I promise! As for entertaining yourself, you should work on that quest the inn-keeper gave you. I'll let you know when I'm almost back.]

The quest the inn-keeper gave me? The one for free room and food? I'm too low level to do that safely though…

Brushing it off, I clicked the notifications that remained, reminding myself to message him back afterwards.

CONGRATULATIONS SILICA 45 -46

CONGRATULATIONS SILICA 46 -47

CONGRATULATIONS SILICA 47 -48

Or… not.

I gawked, baffled, at the numbers and skill points that presented themselves to me. Bringing my left hand up to my face, I stared at the small metal wrapping around my, incidentally, ring finger. Kirito…

Clasping my hands together, finger stroking the ring, I held them to my chest and closed my eyes. Kirito-kun…

"Kyu?" I felt a tickling sensation nudge my knee from where I had sat up.

Letting out a bright smile, I patted Pina's head and laid down again. I reread his message, the illuminating box appearing ethereal against the starry sky. [You didn't seem to like what I brought last night anyway.] The food was good though…? Oh! I… oops. I gave most of it to Pina because I was too distraught to eat.

I sighed at my selfishness and guilt of making him think that way. I just had to overreact didn't I? My fingers typed out a response to his words as I pursed my mouth in frustration for my foolishness last night.

[Kirito. You don't have to make it up to me, but still I thank you for doing all this for my sake. I can't believe how much experience you got me. You must be working insanely hard. Please, be careful. As for the food… I was… distracted. It really was good. Thank you. I'll take my newfound experience and do that quest. We should talk about that later by the way. Thank you again Kirito. It means the world to me.]

I sent the message out to him after quickly fixing the last sentence from 'You mean the world to me,' to how I sent it as. Feeling a large yawn overtake me I looked up at my hud, seeing it proclaim the time as a whopping 4 AM.

Content though alone, I held Pina close to my chest as I turned on my side, closing my eyes to get a few more hours of sleep before I try something I'd never done before, soloing a dungeon.

Having already woken up and finishing the rest of the 'food' left out by Kirito, I was in the middle of the dungeon.

I leaned back against the cold stone wall outside of the safe zone, utilizing the respawn times for a short rest., Pina on my head. I was rudely reminded of my orange status as I ran face first into an invisible wall. If it wasn't a game I would have certainly broken my nose. Breathing heavily, I closed my eyes. Needing a break after a solid hour of fighting, something I was not used to, I opened my menu and perused my messages. I hate that you can't receive messages in a dungeon. So stupid…

Over the course of my sleep and breakfast, I had received one more message, from Kirito of course.

[It was a bit more than I'm used to but it was worth it. I'm doing fine though. I won't die. I… can't. I'm glad you liked the food though. I'll grab more before I leave. We interviewed the witness at breakfast. So far things seem to be going nowhere fast.]

I had decided to not message him back knowing that I shouldn't bother him if he was stuck dealing with something as serious as murder. My head fell back as I closed my eyes and smiled at the ceiling. I wonder what he's doing right now…Probably being a hero.

Little did I know Kirito was sprinting across rooftops, feeling the exact opposite of anything useful or hero-like.

Standing, I drew my blade and raised my hand to nudge Pina. At my prodding, my companion flew next to me as he let out a cute version of a war cry.

"Kyu!"

Thank you Pina. I mentally thought, knowing that my level made it possible to do the dungeon, but it was actually my pet dragon and his healing that made it safe. The only real problem would be the boss where the HP breath would too few and far between. Good thing I have healing crystals.

Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I braced myself and ran, dagger raised high as I charged the mob between me and the large dungeon door.

I awoke on top of my sleeping bag, having not even bothered taking off my armor or weapon. I felt mentally fabricated aches across my body as I groaned into the pillow my displeasure. The sun was near setting as I had made it back and, without really and choice, I decided to take a nap while I waited for Kirito, planning to turn in the quest sometime when I was green again.

Groggily, I opened my eyes to be greeted with a flashing light, signaling a message. Giving a tired smile, I opened the mail.

[Hey Silica. Things seem to not be going anywhere. I'll grab food and be back very soon.]

Surveying the darkness that surrounded me, I checked the time the message was sent. Over three HOURS AGO?! Where is Kirito?! Did something happen?

I sat up straight in shock as I opened my menu. Okay, he's still lit up on my list, so he hasn't died. I wonder…

Kirito's POV

I had never been a fan of riding horses, or any animal for that matter. They were unpredictable and unstable. I would probably be more comfortable riding something I can control myself, like a bike. Too bad SAO is a world of swords. I reminded myself as I rode the horse unsteadily, feeling its frantic gallop beneath my body shifting me unsettlingly.

Feeling those multiple mini-bosses from earlier kick in, I panted heavily as my body yearned for a nights rest. I looked ahead, seeing a splash of green and orange cursors. Cursing my timing, I prepared to jump from the horse, hoping to make an entrance that would startle them enough to not attack the much weaker greens. The horse, however, had different plans, I found out as I raised up its front and I tumbled back and landed on my ass.

Taking a second to rub my backside soothingly, I glanced up at the perpetrators. Thankfully my more embarrassing dismount had the desired effect and I got up quickly to face them. "You want to fight 30 people from the assault team? Or just me? Either way they will be here shortly." I knew I was bluffing. I also knew that the only backup I had was searching the woods for the man who hired these bastards. Could I hold them off long enough for her to arrive? Sure. Would we walk away with our lives…?

I hope this works.

I drew my sword and held it in front of me, attempting to look composed.

The Laughing Coffin members' faces, or what little I could see of them, gave nothing away, their hidden stares analyzing myself as I studied them.

Quickly they sheathed their weapons in unison and began to walk away peacefully. Still with my sword raised, the men passed by me very closely. Now would be the best time… No. They are going without fighting. Leave that battle for another day.

Seeing their cursors become smaller in the distance, I breathed a sigh of relief as I confronted the three greens in front of me. I eyed the purple-haired girl as I talked about their plan and Grimlock.

Eventually, I heard the dry crackle of leaves behind me as my partner come out of the forest leading the man she had been searching for. Turning around to face her, I froze and peered over her shoulder. A glimpse of Orange peeked back at me. So they sent one back? Bastards…

I had never been into poisons, personally finding them underhanded and unfair. At the moment, I didn't care, feeling my rage increase as thoughts of an ambush swept over me. This scout was probably here to see if my bluff was true and once they found out it wasn't, the entire guild was going to come kill us. Ripping the paralyzing dagger out of Schmitt, I pressed it against Grimlock's neck. "Move and I'll make it so you can't move, understood?" I looked at him with steely eyes for a second and then shoved him towards the illusionary avengers.

Stepping close to Asuna, not realizing just how close, I whispered instructions into her ear.

Unfazed by going cheek to cheek with me, she nodded with harsh understanding and turned around heading in the opposite direction, widely to the left of the Laughing Coffin scout. I, on the other hand, sprinted in an arc to the right. Together, I saw by her cursors movement, we simultaneously stopped our circling and charged towards the center, flanking the orange player. I didn't plan on killing anyone today, but to keep these five safe and making it back alive to Her… I would have to. Too easily they could send a message and get every high leveled murderer on this floor, ready to wipe us out.

As I ran, I drew my sword, keeping it behind my right leg as I ran, careful to not hit any trees or slow my movement.

Hearing a yell in front of me, I realized Asuna's far superior speed, a stat I couldn't max and keep up my fighting abilities. She already caught the bastard. Looking ahead, I saw her giving a harsh look and her rapier raised towards a tree. Obviously the culprit was against the tree, probably making some false plea about being a good player. Knowing I would never forgive myself if I let someone like Asuna, as much as she disliked me, kill someone, I raised my sword, ready to be the one to carry that burden.

I contorted my face into one of pure loathing and merciless intent. I knew it would affect Asuna. She would probably view me differently if I killed someone with such a look. That's the plan anyway. Maybe she'll hate me too much to bother with me anymore. I've turned to nothing but trouble since floor one. She needs to learn that. I faltered for a second at my words. But I've also brought Her into my life… shouldn't I do the same in the retrospect too? She deserves better… Shaking the thought out of my head, I focused on the task I knew I would forever have trouble getting over.

Veering slightly to the right of the tree, I wrapped my left hand around a small trunk and used my momentum to swing me around and plant my blade at the neck of the god damned…

…

"Silica?"

You all shoulda realized something was off when you saw Silica's POV at the top. I made sure not to do it before this chapter. :P

Finally I was able to write it. I hope you like it. Compared to my last few chapters, I'm a bit proud of this one and I hope you like it.

I had another idea, where Silica ran into PoH, Johnny, and XaXa, but meh. I like how this turned out.